Is the next great filmmaker a BCPS student? Student film expo this spring might answer that question!

by Bailey Cosnett, intern, Dept. of Communications and Community Outreach

Many great film directors made their first feature film before the age of 30. Is the next great young filmmaker currently sitting in a BCPS classroom?

High school student filmmakers are invited to enter their work in the inaugural BCPS Film Expo. A diverse panel of judges—composed of BCPS staff, local filmmakers, and Hollywood professionals—will evaluate each entry and select first, second, and third place awards in five categories: Live Action Narratives, Documentary Films, Animation, Experimental Films, and Animated GIFs.

Interested students must have approval from an art teacher at their school and submit a registration form by Friday, February 5. Only five entries will be accepted per school in the live action narrative, documentary, animation, and experimental film categories. A maximum of three entries per school will be accepted in the GIF category. Submissions are limited to 10 minutes in length, and they must conform to the BCPS code of ethics and standards of acceptable use and propriety. The deadline for submissions is Saturday, March 5. Finalists will be notified of their standing by Tuesday, April 5. The culmination of the competition will be a film showing and awards ceremony on Thursday, May 5, from 5 – 8 p.m. at the Historic Senator Theater in Baltimore.

More information, including guidelines, registration, tutorials, resources, and submission requirements, will be available online at www.bcpsfilmexpo.org soon. You can also contact Mr. Dortzbach at jdortzbach@bcps.org with any questions.